Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-01-14


who spend, the greatest part of his time in
finding homes for the children, and look
ing after them after they are placed in
such homes.
The State Prison at Jackson is an "old
trap and ought to Toe thoroughly over
hauled The lonia House OF Correction is
in excellent condition. The State Prison
for the Upper Peninsula has filed its
annual report. The work Of construction
Is progressing in a satisfactory manner.
The site Is beautiful one and the sur
roundings all thu could be desired for any
state institution.
The four insane asylums have made re-
quests for improvements for the purchase
OF land, and for the building OF cottages
l recommend that whatever moneys are
expended by the Pontiac and Kalamazoo
asylums shall be taken from their surplus
funds At the rate charged for caring for
patients during the present low prices of
provisions, quite substantial saving Is
made, and IL is out of this that il is recon-
meDded the improvements asked for shall
be made. The colony system, so far as it
can be used is very much cheaper than
keeping patients in the main buildings, as
cottages can be built for from $3.50 TO $500
per patient while the main buildings have
cost more than $1,000 per patient; and
besides, these cottages placed on farms
give the patients work which they gladly
perform, and not only benefit themselves,
but contribute much towards their own
support. / hope the asylum for insane
criminals at Ionia will not be enlarged,
but that is may be turned into a much
needed prison for women, and n new asy
lum, where ample lands can he obtained,
may be erected for the criminal insane.
Narcotics and restraints have been almost
entirely done away with in our aSylums
The Mining school has opened under the
most favorable auspices, and already Mt
the close OF the first term Is in admirable
and established working order. The young
men in attendance are enthusiastic over
the course OF instruction given.
The governor takes exceptions TO that
portion Of tho report of the board OF cor
rections and charities referring 20 the
methods Of doing business in state institu-
tions, which the board considered loose
The boards of these institutions arc made
up from the very best men in our state
men who give their time and thought to
the care OF the same without paY,Or thanks,
but simply from "A motive TO serve tho
state and DO what they can for the unfOr-
tunate inmates OF them. They are in \
large part thorough business men. and
their judgments as 90 any emergency
which arises and which cannot be pro-
vidcd for by special legislation because
unforeseen, should be either accepted
by the state or else the system should
be abolished or other men appointed
20 fill their places. Contingencies for the
expenditure 0f money will continually
and there j, no way 20 meet them except
by giving 10 the board in charge discre-
tiOuary powers TO q great extent. No
great improvements or expenditures
should he made without legislative enact
ment; but after all. in tho main the man
aCemeut of these institutions must be left
wilh their respective boards. the same as
a successful business Is always in the
hands OF its prOprlctOrs. ] think II would
Ie wise 20 enact a law requiring the
a. oil FrFf n
settlements with the state covering all
unused or accumulated balances in the
state treasury. INi. would be doing bust
mes, in a hu~incs, way. | believe the
board Of correct nus and charities are do
ing most exec. leut work in the state. but
thinl; they are accomplishing their great
est good IN connection with our county
agents, laliS and poOrnouses. and ] hope
their power, and duties NAV be confined
90 The latter work and that they may DO
relieved from looking after the state insti-
tutionS. J recommend the law be changed
accordingly.
The governor recites the history Of the
soldiers home and says;
/ have no doubt hut fully an average Of
400 Veterans viii needs be accomm odated
and when they have all passed away and
the building i no longer required for their
occupancy. II viii he q most excellent one
for the state 20 use as an asylum or for
other purposes. Other states have fol-
lowed the example OF MltNlGhn III caring
for its veterans. and | sincerely trust YOU
Will carefully look over the estimates re
CURED 10 curry IL along and give il your
liberal support The amount rcqui red is
large. but il is n large, debt we
owe TO these old veterans and in
our prosperity let Is neither forsake nor
forget them I rec) mmend however. that
the sum be reduced % two hundred thous-
and dollars believing that the estimates
can be cut down 10y the use OF the labor OF
the inmates.
The legislature will be called on 70 patch
Up the tax laws aud tho governor recon-
mends study of the advisahility Of sub
stituting the county system. lie also
wants some provision for Michigan
representation az exhibitions. More strin-
gent laws should be made regulating
methods Of taking fish and 20 improve ar
tiicial distribution. Tho state geolO-
gist should bc relieved OF the
burden Of publishing his report at
his own expense and furnishing the state
with thousand copies.
Early IN ls~J received from the general
government the sum Of Sl694.2l, the same
being the allowance passed TO the credit
of this state on the eighth inStamcnt OF
our war claim against the government.
On the 3st of March last appointed Hon.
+. W. keightly OF Constantine the agent
OF the state to push these war claims and
make collections thereon, and he is now
engaged in the work. His compensation
is To be ten per cent. on all collections
made and the state is 20 be subject 20 no
expense in the matter whatever. have
also received from the government 81. 503.-
81 due 20 the state as swamp land indem-
nifty, also S29,0l4.O1, being money due the
state on the five per cent. accruing from
the sales OF government lands within the
limit OF the state Total cash received
from the government, SJG0j9.61
recommend that an amendment TO tho
constitution be submitted 90 the people OF
the state with regard to the prohibition OF
the sale of intoxicating liquors This
question comes up at every sitting Of the
legislature. and so many people have asked
its submission TO a vote that recommend
the same be done AZ this session and thus
let the matter be settled.
The governor recommends nm appropri
alton OF at least 5000 for monuments
marking the situation OF Michigan corp:
on the field of Gettysburg and commits
sion OF three TO confer with other states In
carrying out the design.
l recommend 70 you that law be passed
increasing the number OF judges OF the
supreme court 20 five. In one court in the
upper peninsula the tax law was held &c
/ be constitutional. and the supreme court
afhrmed the decision 10y n tie vote. In a
court in the lower peninsula the tax law
was held TO be unconstitutional, and again
anirmed by tie vote. Consequently, IN
1 - I.,.s -. 81